Shiloh Hendrix, a Rochester woman whose actions ignited nationwide outrage earlier this year, is finally facing legal consequences months after a viral video showed her hurling a racial slur at an autistic Black child. The incident, which spread like wildfire across social media, sparked heated debate and drew widespread condemnation.

On Tuesday, the Rochester City Attorney’s Office announced that Hendrix is being charged with three misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct. Each charge carries a possible penalty of up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

The Incident That Shocked a Community

The confrontation happened back in April at Roy Sutherland Playground in Rochester, Minnesota. Hendrix was caught on camera after she accused a young Somali-American boy with autism of taking an applesauce pouch from her child’s diaper bag. Instead of simply retrieving the item, Hendrix lashed out, calling the boy the N-word multiple times.

When a local man, Sharmake Omar, stepped in to defend the child, Hendrix doubled down. She directed the same racial slur at him, cursed at bystanders, and flipped her middle finger at the camera.

“If that’s what he’s going to act like,” she snapped, justifying her language even as she was being recorded.

The video was posted online and quickly went viral, amassing millions of views within days. Calls for her arrest echoed across the country, with many pointing to the disturbing nature of the attack.

The Rochester chapter of the NAACP released a statement calling the incident more than just offensive behavior. “It was an intentional racist, threatening, hateful, and verbal attack against a child, and it must be treated as such,” the organization declared.

Turning Backlash Into Profit

Rather than apologize, Hendrix portrayed herself as the victim. She launched a crowdfunding campaign on GiveSendGo, asking for $1 million to “protect her family.” In her campaign description, she wrote, “I recently had a kid steal from my 18-month-old son’s diaper bag at a park. I called the kid out for what he was. Another man followed me, filmed me, and posted it online, causing great turmoil for my family.”

Her plea resonated with some. Donations began pouring in almost immediately. By June, the campaign had already raised more than $525,000. As of this week, the total has surpassed $800,000.

The fundraiser has been controversial, especially after racist and white nationalist comments flooded the campaign page. Jacob Wells, co-founder of GiveSendGo, confirmed the platform would not block the fundraiser but said they eventually disabled comments after a review.

Legal and Community Fallout

On Tuesday, prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against Hendrix, citing her use of “offensive, obscene, or abusive language that would reasonably tend to arouse alarm, anger, or resentment in others.” She has been charged by summons and is expected to make her first court appearance via Zoom on October 29.

Officials believe Hendrix may no longer live in Rochester, and she is thought to be representing herself in court. Because of the large amount of money she raised online, she is unlikely to qualify for a public defender. “Eligibility for a public defender is determined by the court based on financial status,” a city spokesperson explained.

The charges have stirred strong reactions across Minnesota. Rochester Mayor Kim Norton addressed the community, saying, “This was a situation that deeply affected many people, especially our communities of color. We acknowledge the lasting impact this incident has had, not only on those directly involved, but also in the broader conversations happening at the state and national level.”

More details about the case are expected during a scheduled press conference on August 28.